Novak Djokovic sent 'dangerous' message after pulling out of French Open injured

Novak Djokovic has been warned it would be ‘dangerous’ to try and return from injury in time to compete at Wimbledon after the Serbian was forced to withdraw from the French Open. The 37-year-old was sent for a scan after his epic fourth round victory over Francisco Cerundolo, with results confirming he had suffered a torn medial meniscus in his right knee.

Djokovic had been due to play Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud in the last eight on Wednesday, but duly confirmed he would be forfeiting that clash.

"I am really sad to announce that I have to withdraw," he said in a statement. "My team and I had to make a tough decision after careful consideration and consultation."

The development has also cast doubt over his Wimbledon participation, with the grass court tournament set to get underway on July 1. And now seven-time Grand Slam winner Mats Wilander has outlined his concerns that Djokovic will be forced to skip an appearance at SW19.

“For him, I’m worried about him playing Wimbledon to be honest,” he said on Eurosport. “The grass, it’s a dangerous surface if you’re trying to come back from meniscus surgery. Of course, winning Wimbledon for an eighth time would be amazing, to get to 25 majors.”

And Wilander even suggested that the injury could mean a change of priorities for Djokovic this summer, with the 2024 Paris Olympics getting underway in late July. And it’s a prize that has thus far escaped the icon in his illustrious career.

“I would have to think that the most important tournament for him, for once, is the Olympics,” he continued. “Because he hasn’t won an Olympic Gold medal and he would like to bring that home to Serbia.”

Prior to his injury, Djokovic had displayed all of his legendary fighting qualities at Roland Garros. He came through a five set thriller with Lorenzo Musetti in round three and trailing 2-1, and did the same in overcoming Cerundolo.

And Wilander, 59, said the French Open would miss his presence and his influence on the younger generation. “The one disappointing thing for me personally is I want to see him here, I want to see him push the youngsters,” he added.

“Because you see what he brought to the matches with Musetti and Cerundolo - the young guys they don’t know how to do that. How to throw the kitchen sink at everything and everybody and say ‘I’m not losing’.

“And I think Novak is the last of the guys (on the current circuit) to really know how to do that, because of his experience. And that’s why I’m disappointed."